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Since I’m a Packers fan, let’s do a NFC North Preview. This year, the NFC North pulled the NFC East and the AFC South. Here are their respective standings from 2015.

What does this all mean for the Packers and the NFC North this year? Just looking at the graphics above can make the Packers, Bears, Vikings, and Lions see Super Bowl rings in their future …

Six of the eight teams didn’t even have a winning record!

The NFC East division champ, the Washington Football Team, had 9 wins, but those wins were in a division in which the competition didn’t break 500. That’s not saying a lot about those 9 wins …

As for the Cowboys, 2016 isn’t looking great. Tony Romo went down in the preseason and won’t be expected back until the middle of the schedule or until he meets the requirements for a do not resuscitate order. The Giants have a new coach, so maybe that’s something to look forward to … but getting rid of Tom Coughlin? A wise person once said, when thinking about getting rid of a coach, you always have to ask yourself, who are you going to get that’s better? Apparently, the organization thinks Ben McAdoo is the answer. Hmmm.

Eagles have a new coach in Doug Pederson. He is a disciple of Andy Reid, so maybe it is a return to better times for the Eagles??? According to SB Nation, don’t get your hopes up. They did an article about the poor clock management Mr. Pederson coached during his Kansas City Chiefs playoff game against the Patriots (see link). So maybe not such a good thing?

As for the AFC South, what is there to say? I never watch them, there is no need to watch them, and I don’t care. I mean, really … what’s the incentive? Let’s take a gander at the recent past of the amazing Jacksonville Jaguars.

Seriously, that’s just impressive.

The only thing to be lukewarm to moderately excited about in the AFC South is the Houston Texans. A new quarterback, Lamar Miller from the inept Dolphins (perhaps he will actually get utilized this year), and DeAndre Hopkins round out the inner circle. It must be thrilling to be a Texans fan and realize you are perhaps the only competent team in the AFC South. Well, unless the Colts get their shit together. However, I give zero fucks about investigating why they were so bad last year.

Now, for the real meat and potatoes of this post … the NFC North.

Here is how the NFC North wound up last year.

Chicago Bears:

Oh, the Bears. What to say …

Really, there isn’t much to say. Langford might be the only ray of light (Go Green!). Miller has never really met expectations and Jeffrey isn’t the same threat after Marshall left. After these mediocre facts, I just really want to add this gif …

Detroit Lions:

I feel so bad for the Lions. In a division where Cutler is the best hope for the Bears, and the Vikes just lost Teddy Bridgewater, this year should be easy breezy for the Lions. Yet, the Lions have the worst luck ever. Without Megatron, I just don’t see how they compete. Number 81 drew double and triple coverage — Matt Stafford is in for a lot of unopen receivers in 2016.

I do have to say though, mad props to Stafford who might be the toughest QB in the league. Each year he takes beating after beating and still gets up. He does nothing but impress me in this regard, but only in that regard.

Green Bay Packers:

This is our year. Honestly, if we don’t win the Super Bowl this year it’s a catastrophic failure.

Reasons why:

Strength of schedule

Jordy Nelson’s return

No Megatron

No Teddy Bridgewater

No Beastmode

No nemesis team, i.e., Niners

Jay Cutler

Hopefully a more motivated Eddie Lacy (who should be helped by the presence of Jordy)

Play calling experiment over — McCarthy has taken back the reigns

Jake Schum — okay, this is a weak one, but only because of the individual, not the concept. We needed a better punter, badly.

Here is our depth chart thanks to Ourlads.com:

Our window isn’t closing, but it’s not wide open either. We have so many things going for us this year. This is the year we need to get it done.

So yay! Let’s do it Packers!

Minnesota Vikings:

Poor Vikings. They were the NFC North division champs last year with a bright, shiny 2016 ahead of them. How fast things can change. Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee along with an ACL tear in the preseason. That is devastating.

Fortunate for the Vikings (as of Sept 1st), the general manager was quoted as saying this in an NFL.com article:

“The one thing that I will not do, and I promise you this, is put our organization in a situation where it’s going to inhibit us or hurt us going into the future,” Spielman told reporters before the Vikings played the Rams in their preseason finale .

That sounds good, right?

Hmmm. Just wait for it …

Sam Bradford traded from the Eagles!

Here is what the Vikes gave up:

2017 1st round draft

2018 4th round draft pick (could be a 3rd round if win NFC championship or a 2nd round if win the SB)

$7 million

Yeah, you know, just what Spielman said, no impact on the future …

Here is what Bradford brings:

A somewhat shiny QB for the Vikes grand opening of their new stadium

2016: 3, 725 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions

2015: Missed two game due to concussion, missed two other games for sprained shoulder

2014 Left ACL reinjury (preseason) – out for season

2013 Left ACL tear (week 7 of season)

2009 A/C joint surgery

Oh, man. Good luck Vikes. I mean, wow. Just … wow …

I hope this blog was informative, maybe got you up to date, or at least got you pumped for the season.

**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com

This is the time to look back and reflect on the season. To appreciate the things we did well, and to take a hard look at what we need and should improve on.

Offense.

We weathered the storm of missing our two best players on offense — Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb. It was blatantly apparent in the last two games what magic those two can create when working together. I thought we did fairly well when we got Matt Flynn in there. Yet, it highlighted what everyone has been mumbling about for a while. The protection for Aaron Rodgers in the pocket needs to improve. Aaron is the best in the game. He has to release the ball that quick because his offensive line doesn’t allow for all that much time to throw the ball before the pocket collapses. Matt Flynn tried his best, but his inability to get the ball out lightening-quick highlighted just how bad the pocket protection is when the Packers don’t have Aaron Rodgers. What I’m trying to say, is Aaron Rodgers masks just how bad our offensive line is. That is something I would certainly like to see fixed in the offseason.

Other things I would like fixed. Our random inability to score in the redzone was a bit weird as the season wore on. James Jones, while not completely reverting to his old ways, did seem to lose some of his laser-focus he displayed last year. He dropped some mighty important throws in that postseason game. That makes me nervous.

I’d like to get rid of Jermichael Finley. He is too inconsistent. While he may be good at blocking (I don’t know), he is not a great pass-catcher. I would love a stat of how many balls he drops. I’d rather not have him open, and have Aaron Rodgers questioning whether if he throws Jermichael the ball, that he will actually catch it. Plus, then Jermichael whines and cries to the media about Aaron. How about he looks at himself before he starts complaining about others?

I have really enjoyed the emergence of Boykin.

I loved that Mason Crosby got himself back on track this year. He showed true grit when he took a reduced contract, but with multiple incentives, to stay on the Packers. That’s integrity.

Eddie Lacy. I love him. I absolutely adore him. Great running back, great person, great perseverance. He really came through for the team this year. He didn’t start off great, and I, probably like others, were thinking that he would peter out like Cedric Benson did. Nope. He excelled. Boy-oh-boy do I hope he wins rookie of the year. I love watching interviews with him. Great smile, great character. I honestly can not say enough nice things about him.

Jordy Nelson deserves an award this season. He was a rock when everything around him was falling apart. Calm, focused, never wavered. Always amazing. Great player on and off the field. Love you Jordy.

Defense.

What do I say about defense that hasn’t already been said? I did hear Aaron say something that did give me pause. That the defense held the Niners to 23 points and that’s a game the offense should win. Yes, in fact, he was right (I would never presume to argue with Rodgers). I’m constantly complaining that we allow multiple games with over 30 points. Here was one where we didn’t. I think, in this particular game, a lot of it was, for the offense, the slow start, the multiple sacks, the dropped (big play) balls by James Jones.

However, on the last drive, all I kept thinking was, just stop them here. 3rd and 8 — here is your chance. They couldn’t. mental errors, losing contain, broken tackles … all the things that have plagued the Packers defense for the last few years. Now, I know, we didn’t have any of our starts. Still, they, too, make tons of mental errors. Also? I’m not super happy with this bend not break theory of Capers. Bending is not okay because we do break on the big plays. We let a lot of big plays happen. enough.

Enough is enough with the defense. We spent the last two years working on our defense. Do something. I still think the answer is firing Dom Capers. However, we need to get a good defensive coordinator. I know, how about my alumni coach Mark Dantonio? That would be a dream. His record, especially on defense, is impressive.

Now I root for Denver. Peyton Manning — you’re amazing. Classy, talented, and a great leader. You have showed your greatness on and off the field. You have put to rest what Manning brother is the greatest – you. As if there was any debate (actually, obviously there was, which was ridiculous). Plus, this needs to be your last year brother. I worry about you. That neck of yours is made of glass. Please just win this Super Bowl and have that be enough. I don’t want to hear about you in a few years when some articles explains how you are in constant, chronic pain.

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